August 10, 2007
“I know what it’s like to wake up without health care coverage; to juggle paying for a well-child visit versus a day at daycare; to wait out seeking preventive medical treatment only to find myself in the emergency room without sufficient health insurance – even though I had a fulltime job. The memory of that experience is as real to me today as it was 15 years ago. No family should have to make those choices.” - Donna Edwards
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Upon settling in the Washington DC metropolitan area more than 25 years ago following college, I first moved to Silver Spring and then to Fort Washington, where I’ve raised my son Jared. We’ve had a lot of transition in that time. Today, we face tremendous challenges and you know as I do that challenges require leadership at every level -- someone who is a forceful, principled, and effective leader on the difficult issues that we face. I am committed to fulfilling that need and that is why I am seeking to represent you in the United States’ Congress.
One of our most pressing challenges is one I know first hand: Unavailable and unaffordable health insurance coverage. I know what it’s like to wake up without health care coverage; to juggle paying for a well-child visit versus a day at daycare; to wait out seeking preventive medical treatment only to find myself in the emergency room without sufficient health insurance – even though I had a fulltime job. The memory of that experience is as real to me today as it was 15 years ago. No family should have to make those choices.
Today, I am fortunate to have really terrific health insurance coverage for myself and my son through my employer, but I know that but for luck I could be among the 810,000 Marylanders or 47 million Americans without health care coverage. Even those of us with health care insurance coverage can share a story or two about ways in which the current system does not make sense – a payment or procedure denied; an astronomical charge for a simple service; inability to see the specialist you need. And I also know that even those of us with health care coverage face huge and ever-rising deductibles and co-payments and rarely receive coverage for preventive care and important diagnostic procedures. My worry these days is that once my son is out of college he won’t be covered by my insurance and the costs could be extraordinary for him. But for any of us, it could be a job loss or cut back in health benefits from an employer or elimination of retirement benefits – it feels more likely than not that at some point you or someone you know will not have health care coverage. This is not acceptable.
When I’m in Congress, I will provide bold leadership to bring the United States in line with every other developed nation to provide accessible, affordable, quality health care to all Americans. We can no longer allow powerful insurance and pharmaceutical companies to dictate U.S. health care policy. And, we cannot allow a voice on the telephone to determine the best treatment protocol for patients – that’s the job of our doctors and medical professionals. We need bold, long-term solutions to meet our health care needs today and in the future.
- We must stop confusing expensive insurance with health care. Insurance companies should not be allowed to profit excessively and sacrifice quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Government and elected leaders must change the conversation from insurance coverage to health care by making policy changes to expand access for all to quality, affordable health care. By investing in preventative health care to reduce disease (cancer and diabetes screening, well-child and prenatal care, mammograms and colonoscopies, nutrition counseling and obesity prevention, etc.), we can lower costs for everyone, without losing quality.
- Businesses, particularly small businesses, want their employees to have access to health care – but it must be affordable. Through a universal, Canadian-styled, health care system, all Americans would have access to quality, affordable health care. A new system would provide stability and predictability for employers and enable employees to obtain health care coverage no matter their employer or pre-existing conditions. Under this system all Americans would be able to choose their doctor without the uncertainty of rising deductibles and co-payments. There must be shared responsibility from employers and employees to keep our workforce healthy.
- We must enable states and the federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices. This is just good business. Consumers, not pharmaceutical companies, should dictate the prices of prescription drugs. We cannot allow advertising and marketing to determine which drugs are appropriate for treatment purpose – that’s the job of independent, individual treating physicians and medical professionals.
- The health care system requires accountability. Government must provide oversight of health insurers and pharmaceutical companies so that consumers are protected. The major factor leading to personal bankruptcy is medical costs, and most of those who face bankruptcy have health insurance that just runs out. Sadly, good people lose their homes and their quality of life because they can’t afford their health care costs. The system must be accountable – for access, for quality, and for cost.
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